Prisoner of War Ultra

Camp Croft State Park - Spartanburg Sc

“The prisoner, having reached the depth of his depression, gradually reawakens to the life around him. He licks himself and his wounded pride, opens his eyes, and finds that far away on the horizon there is still a ray of sunlight left.”

Upstate Race Series is presenting its Annual Prisoner of War Ultra to be held at Camp Croft State Park in Spartanburg South Carolina. This race will bring the history of Camp Croft as an Infantry Training camp established in the 1940's in preparation of World War II. Over 200,000 soldiers were trained at Camp Croft during that time. The majority of the soldiers trained at Croft were rifleman and as you do loops around the 8 mile course you can still hear shots being fired at the James O. Thomason Firing Range over the hill.

Many of us have family members who are in active duty or veterans of war. Many of them suffer from aspects of the war that are hard to explain. They keep them locked inside and create their own prison wall inside. Please keep in mind the struggle that many veterans faced during and after their service.

This 7,000-acre park near downtown Spartanburg was once a United States Army training camp, giving it the name Camp Croft. The training base was established here in 1941 under the direction of then-United States Senator James F. Byrne and was named in honor of Major General Edward Croft of Greenville, a former United States Army Chief of Infantry who died in 1938. From 1941 through 1946, around 60,000 troops went through training at Camp Croft each year. The camp closed in 1947, and the land was transferred to the South Carolina Commission of Forestry for use as a state park. Camp Croft State Park opened in 1949.

Referral Program

Invite your running buddies! When you register you will be assigned a link/code that you can share with your friends & family. The link will appear in your confirmation message, your email, and in your RunSignUp profile! Use your unique referral code to share with your running buddies! For every every 2 participants that use your referral code/link to register you will receive a $5 refund to your registration! Refer enough runners and RUN FOR FREE! 

• Share Your Referral Codes - HERE

Event Details

• What: 50k, 25k, 8 Mile Race

• Where: Croft State Park

• Address: 450 Croft State Park Rd, Spartanburg, SC 29302

• When: November 9th

• Time - All Races Start at 8am

• Packet Pickup: will begin one hour prior to the race start at the activity center and main parking area

• Event Shirts - Our local apparel vendor (Graphic Cow) will be processing all shirt orders. Please follow the link below to pre-order a shirt from the list of races. All race specific shirts will be mailed directly to your home address after the event to commemorate your race experience! The store link will be open until the Monday after each race.

  • SHIRT ORDER FORM HERE

Course Map - HERE

The course will consist of a 25k "Figure 8" Loop. The 50k runners will perform the loop twice. The 25k Runners will perform a single loop and the 8 mile runners will perform the top side of the "Figure 8" loop on the north side of the state park. Signs will be posted and all runners will check in at the middle of the  "Figure 8" which will be held at the Activity Center adjacent to participant parking. 

Participant Experience

Join our race for an unforgettable running experience! All participants will receive a handcrafted finisher medal to show off an unforgettable course and race experience. At packet pickup your swag bag will be complete with custom stickers, race bib, and crew socks. There will be music at both the start and finish of your event to energize your experience. Make sure to smile because all of our runners will receive complementary race photos along the course. 

Finisher Medal - Complimentary Race Photos - Custom Bib - Post Race Pancakes - Race Specific Crew Socks - Event & Upstate Race Series Stickers - Sponsored Giveaways - Raffled Items during the awards ceremony for both Age Group Awards and Overall Winners - Music and Post Race Pancakes while you hangout and cheer on other runners! 

Personal Tent Set Up & Drop Bags

Athletes who are not camping are permitted to have a drop bag or personal tent near the aid station. Please be mindful to place your personal belongings off the course as to not impede the runners, the flow of traffic, or other race participants. The start and finish line loop will serve as the official drop bag area designation. When you are finished with your race please "pack in and pack out" making the host facility look better than you found it. 

Address

Runners can enter the park at the following address: 450 Croft State Park Road, Spartanburg, SC 29302. Once you enter the park please follow the signs to main park office adjacent to Campground loop 1 & 2. Any additional parking can be found adjacent to the horse stables and will be marked accordingly. 

Aid Stations

There is one aid stations on course that will be located at the start/finish. Items may include: pickles, cookies, chips, Little Debbie snacks, assorted candy, chicken/veggie broth, fig newtons, & pretzels. Liquids will include water, Tailwind Nutrition, coke, and ginger ale. If you would like to donate an aid station supply of something that we do not offer or that is homemade feel free! Cup-less Event: Please provide your own hydration vessel for use at our aid stations 

Race Awards, Age Group Point Series, Chip Timing

• Top 3 Male and Female Overall

• Top 3 Male & Female Age Group

• Age Group Categories

  • 0-9

  • 10-12

  • 13-16

  • 17-19

  • 20-29

  • 30-34

  • 35-39

  • 40-44

  • 45-49

  • 50-54

  • 55-59

  • 60-64

  • 65-69

  • 70-79

  • 80+

• Upstate Trail/Ultra - Age Group Point Series Standings - HERE